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The history of Denbigh is to be showcased in a new museum if plans to turn the town’s former magistrates court into a visitor attraction get the go ahead.

Works by poet Twm o'r Nant, a plaster cast of explorer HM Stanley’s hand, and medical equipment from the North Wales Hospital asylum dating back to 1848 are all set to be put on show to the public.

A public consultation over whether the town council should ask for a £200,000 loan to buy the former magistrates court will end tomorrow.

The results of the consultation will be put before the town council on May 20, and if the idea is backed, councillors will apply to the Welsh Government for public funding by May 31.

If the council is awarded the loan the town council says it will increase the annual council tax precept it sets by 7p per week, or £3.64 a year, to pay for it.

The museum is planning to show a number of exhibitions including some of the works of famous “Welsh Shakespeare” Twm o’r Nant, a Welsh language dramatist and poet, letters, books and a plaster cast of a hand from the Denbigh explorer HM Stanley, who found fame after finding lost missionary Dr Livingstone in present day Tanzania, and records of Denbigh’s history dating back to the thirteenth century.

Chair of the museum board and Denbighshire County Councillor, Gwyneth Kensler said the reaction of the public has, so far, been positive.

Cllr Kensler said: “The response has been brilliant so far. We held a consultation period in the library and we had a fantastic response.

“Over 80 people expressed interest in being a volunteer so there is tremendous enthusiasm in Denbigh for this.”

Various local history groups have also shown their interest in displaying exhibitions at the museum.

Cllr Kensler added: “A local historian RM Owen holds a lot of letters and cards and they are earmarked for the museum and there is a small collection of medical equipment in private hands.

“Cadw, the people who own Denbigh Castle, also have material which they would like to display at the museum. There will also be space for educational activities, a research area, some storage space and a retail area to raise a little income.”

Denbigh Town Clerk, Medwyn Jones, urged residents to get down to Denbigh library to have their say on the proposals before the consultation period ends.

Mr Jones said: “A lot will depend on the replies on the questionnaires.

“Denbigh desperately needs a museum and it is a nice building with scope for offices and so on.

“There is a large car park and there may be scope for coach parking which we need in Denbigh because at the moment we are a tourist attraction without a coach parking facility.”

The magistrates court building started life as a primary school in 1877 before being converted in 1987. Magistrates will leave the building in September for the final time.

If you are interested in volunteering with Denbigh Museum the museum group has its first AGM at Denbigh Town Hall on Thursday May 16 at 7pm.